Fermín Red Ale
Mateo & Bernabe

number 7 on the label, i have had this one in the cellar a little while, and its drinking amazingly well right now, incredibly unique take on a red ale, enormously high quality, i dont know why these beers didnt sell well when they were available here. this has a deep garnet color with a tall khaki head thick as shaving cream and pretty good clarity. the sexy little bottle shows some sediment on the next from what i would guess was an active bottle conditioning, but there is no sediment in my glass. it smells like kilned malts, almonds, golden raisins, and tart cherries with a little bread yeast element. unexpectedly complex and yeast driven for being a decidedly malty brew. the flavor is great, some definite tartness to it, not a flaw or even necessarily a product of its age, it seems purposeful here, very mild but very distinct, helps cut some of the grain weight, which would be oddly sturdy for its mild abv without it. the sparkling carbonation helps with that too. red malty, baked bread, dried apple, toffee, honeyed biscuit, earthy mixed nuttiness too. overall really flavorful and robust, interesting, and well built. i would buy this again if it were around, a smart and inspired take on a style that rarely turns me on. very well done!

 

Brewed in conjunction with Sheperd Neame for recent Wetherspoons festival. I had a half pint at 'spoons in Helensburgh. It was more amber than the intense red mooted in the 'spoons blurb and as usual for 'spoons the nose was indistinct. It tastes sweet and tangy with the hops serving to make it tangy rather than offering any discernible bitterness: one dimensional but pleasant.